- Joined
- Apr 22, 2013
- Location
- upper mid-west
Lane had alerted all his regimental commanders that they were moving up to take the lead and therefore to be at the highest possible alert for anything and to prepare to make a night attack. There was a great deal of confusion during this time and it only got worse as the sun set. Every report I can recall reading says that Jackson met with Hill on the Plank Road and this meeting occurred AS Lane's Brigade was being put in place. I can see a scenario where there is a great deal of activity and once the meeting was over Jackson decides to go out front a little farther to find out what the Union forces were doing. According to this book he went out about 100 yards, just short of the NC 33 but he was close enough to hear the Union forces working on defensive positions. On returning gun fire erupts to his south so his party moves into the tree line on the north side of Plank Road for ?? what ?? protection, my guess. Why did he decide to turn into the woods near his own lines?? Perhaps the guide, Pvt Kyle recommended that turn?? Next someone in the NC 18 yelled "Yankee Cavalry" and firing erupted. From a simple soldiers point of view I am sure the soldiers of the NC 18th had no idea where they were or what direction they were facing. They had marched all day just keeping the back of the soldier in front of them in sight. What did Major Barry know? Did he know there were friendly pickets to his front???A confederate officer is quoted in Sears book as saying that the 'possibility of Union Cavalry attacking that night in the dense woods of the Wilderness was about as likely as a gunboat firing on them'. But the NC 18th did fire and the rest is history.
I doubt there is much more hard information out there for scholars to sift through, but there are some good stories for historic novelists to write. A truly fascinating time in American History.
I doubt there is much more hard information out there for scholars to sift through, but there are some good stories for historic novelists to write. A truly fascinating time in American History.